Pollen analysis reveals Pleistocene warming's role in human dispersal

A study published in Science Advances suggests that the dispersal of Homo sapiens across Europe and Asia occurred during a major warming period in the late Pleistocene, supported by evidence from pollen analysis around Lake Baikal in Siberia. The research challenges previous archaeological perspectives and provides insights into the environmental conditions that early humans faced during their migration. The study also highlights the emergence of behavioral and cultural changes in early modern humans, coinciding with the anatomical changes observed in the fossil record. However, more evidence is needed to establish a clear link between the archaeological sites and the single human fossil found in the region.